Rotary drilling machine



y 1, 1940. T. s. PARK 2,201,673

ROTARY DRILLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q C) /4 U I *K Q May 21, 1940. T. s. PARK 2,201,673

ROTARY DRILLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 grvuam bodi E/NM Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,201,673 ROTARY DRILLING MACHINE Tracy S. Park, Houston, Tex., assignor to Arthur J. Penick and Kirby T. Penick, Harris County,

Tex.

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a rotary drilling machine and has particular relation to a drive bushing for engaging and driving the drill stem.

It is an object of the invention to provide, in

a rotary drilling machine, a drive bushing having means for engaging and driving round the drill stem, said engaging means being mounted to move with the stem as the stem moves downwardly as drilling progresses.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a rotary drilling machine, a drive bushing, stem engaging means mounted therein and connected into endless travel belts or aprons mounted to revolve as the stem moves downwardly through the bushing and to securely grip and turn the drill stem as the rotary table revolves without biting into or denting or injuring the stem.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a rotary drilling machine, a drive bushing, having a stem engaging means mounted therein, said bushing being shaped to be readily engaged and driven by the rotary table of drilling machine.

At the present time the drill stem used in rotary drilling is usually equipped with a Kelly joint at the upper end thereof, which is square, or polygonal in cross section and with which an ordinary packing or stufling box can not be used for forming a fluid tight seal between said kelly and the upper end of the well casing to prevent the escape of the well liquid. With the type of driving bushing herein described, the Kel.y joint may be dispensed with and only round pipe or drill stem used, with which a packing or stufling box may be-used to prevent the escape of well fluid under pressure between the casing and the drill stem.

It is another object of the invention to provide means whereby the bushing may be secured to the upper joint or section of the drill stem and elevated therewith and swung in the derrick when it is desired to make up or break up the stem.

While the invention herein described has been especially designed for use in driving a drill stem, it is capable of general use for rotating round objects.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular relation to certain novel 50 features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the drive bushing, shown partly in section.

Application November 6, 1937, Serial No. 173,131

Figure 2 shows a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view thereof.

' Figure 3 shows an enlarged horizontal, fragmentary sectional view.

Figure 4 shows a side elevation of a guide plate 0 employed, and

Figure 5 shows a side elevation of the rotary drilling machine, showing the drive bushing mounted thereon in driving ,relation with the drill stem. 10

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral l designates the rotary table of a rotary drilling machine which is mounted to turn on I the base plate 2. The base plate, in turn, is supported on the derrick floor 3.

Above the rotary table is the drive bushing which is designated generally by the numeral 4. The lower end 5 of the drive bushing is reduced 20 and is polygonal in cross sectional contour to fit into a correspondingly shaped opening of the rotary table whereby a driving connection is established between the rotary table and the drive bushing. The drive bushing has a vertical open- 25 ing 6 extending therethrough from its upper to its lower end to receive the drill stem 1 which extends downwardly through said opening and on down through the rotary table and base plate into the well. 30

As clearly illustrated in Figure 2 the drive bushing has the pairs of outwardly extended wings 8, said wings being spaced apart as shown and the space between the wings of each pair is extended on inwardly through the bushing into the opening 6, thus forming the slots 9. As shown, there are four pairs of wings, said wings extending outwardly. In the respective slots 9 are the guide plates III which are mounted to pivot on the transverse pins II which extend through the corresponding'wings and through the centrally located bearings l2 of the respective guideplates and these pins are secured in place by the heads l3 on one end and the cotter keys ll through their other ends. The respective ends of the guide plates ID are rounded off and are spaced from the corresponding ends of the respective slots 9.

Driving means for engaging and driving the drill stem, and for permitting its downward movement while being driven, are mounted in the respective slots 9. As shown the driving means I comprise endless belts, or chains, as I5. These They are composed of a series of links, said respective series being indicated by the numerals l6 and H. The links l8 are arranged in staggered relation with respect to the links H with their ends interfltting, said interfltting ends having aligned bearings as l8 to receive the connecting pins l9 whereby the links are connected together in a continuous, or endless, chain. The outer margins of the links present, in horizontal cross-sectional contour, arcuate gripping faces, as more clearly shown in Figure 3 to conform to the shape of and to closely fit the drill stem 1 as also shown in Figure 3.

The plates ID are slightly flexible and their inner margins are arcuate as illustrated in Figure 4. When the drill stem is in the drive bushing as indicated in Figure 1 it will force the upper and lower ends of the plates l0 outwardly so that the inner faces, or margins, of said plates will be substantially straight as shown in Figure 1 so that said plates will be under tension and will be constantly forcing the inner runs of the chains I5 inwardly so that the inner margins of the links, in contact with the stem 1, will securely grip said stem. It will be noted from an inspection of Figure 3 that the slots 9 are slightly widened inwardly so as to provide a clearance to permit the inner margins of the plate-like links I6, II, in contact with the stem 1, to recede slightly as the bushing is turned to the right so as to more effectively grip the stem with toggle-like effect.

As drilling proceeds the drill stem will move downwardly and the chains will revolve about the plates l0 to permit this downward movement of the drill stem and to, at the same time, maintain their gripping and driving relation with said stem.

In adding additional sections to the stem, as the well is deepened, or in breaking out sections of the stem while withdrawing it from the bore, it is necessary to break out, or unscrew, the upper section of the stem and swing it aside in carrying on the various operations incident to making up, or breaking up, the drill stem. It is desirable that the bushing 4 be maintained on said section of the stem while it is being handled and for that purpose a screw 20 is threaded through thewall oi the bushing. During ordinary drilling operations this screw is screwed outwardly clear of the drill stem and in inactive position but while making up, or breaking up, the drill stem the screw 20 may be run inwardly into engagement with the section of the stem through the bushing whereby said section and the bushing may be handled as a unit."

It is obvious that various mechanical changes or modifications may be made without departing from the principle of the invention. The draw- "ings and description disclose what is new considered to be a preferred form or the invention by way of illustration only, while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

.What I claim is:

1. In a rotary drilling machine a housing having a passageway therethrough to receive a drill stem, endless traveling chains mounted to revolve in the housing and composed of nests of plates forming links whose margins, adjacent the stem are adapted to engage the stem to cause the stem to rotate with the housing, the plates in engagement with the stem, being movable downwardly with the stem while maintaining their driving connection therewith and flexible arcuate guide plates pivoted between the ends thereof and adapted to force the chains against the drill stem.

2. In a rotary drilling machine a housing having a passageway therethrough to receive a drill stem, flexible arcuate guide plates mounted in the housing by pivots intermediate the ends of the guide plates, endless traveling chains mounted around the guide plates, the inner margin of each of the chains adjacent the stem being adapted to engage the stem to cause the stem to rotate with the housing, the chain links in engagement with the stem being movable downwardly with the stem while maintaining their driving connection therewith,said plates being flexed upon insertion of the stem between the chains, thereby causing the ends of the plates to urge the chains in close contact with the stem.

3. In a rotary drilling machine, a housing having a passageway therethrough to receive a drill stem, endless traveling chains mounted in the housing composed of links whose outer margins are shaped to engage the stem in the housing to cause the stem to rotate with the housing, the links in engagement with the stem being movable downwardly with the stem, guide plates in the housing about which the respective chains revolve, means anchoring the guide plates to the housing each guide plate having a free portion which is flexible and which bears against its corresponding chain and which is flexed outwardly when the stem is inserted through the housing between the chains and which thereafter urges its chain against the stem.

TRACY S. PARK. 

